Badger Bits: Zak Showalter to work out for Bucks on Monday; Wisconsin freshmen moving to Madison

It’s days before the 2017 NBA Draft, and another Wisconsin Badgers standout gets a workout with the home state team.

The Milwaukee Bucks announced former Wisconsin guard Zak Showalter will work out for the team on Monday. The 6’3, 185-pound former walk-on averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 37 starts as a fifth-year senior last season. He also earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors for his efforts in 2016-17.

Showalter is not the first former Badger to workout for the Bucks, as former teammates Nigel Hayes (May 16), Bronson Koenig (May 18), and Vitto Brown (May 23) previously spent time in Milwaukee.

Later this week, stay tuned to B5Q for NBA Draft profiles of Hayes and Koenig.

Wisconsin football freshmen make their way to Madison

The final incoming freshmen for UW’s class of 2017 football appeared to come into Madison last week—well, those that didn’t enroll early (like the six that did this past January).

Salem, N.J., tailback Jonathan Taylor, who will apparently wear No. 23 for Wisconsin, tweeted a photo of his new locker on Saturday. Taylor recently won Philly.com’s South Jersey male athlete of the year for his accomplishments both on the football field and on the track.

Other freshmen appeared to say their goodbyes to their hometowns, with all sights looking to Madison. That included offensive tackle Tyler Beach, lineman Aaron Vopal, wide receiver Cade Green, safety Scott Nelson, and longsnapper Adam Bay. Bay, who will have the opportunity to take over the starting duties as a true freshman specialist starting in fall camp, will wear No. 51.

Summer conditioning continues for the Badgers before heading into fall camp in August.

More Badger links here:

• If you have a BadgerNation.com subscription, it’s worth reading Benjamin Worgull’s “State of the Nation” ($) this week.
• The Camp Randall 100 celebration continues with looks at Ron Vander Kelen, Joe Thomas, Fred Gage, sackmaster supreme Tom Burke, and Walter “Mickey” McGuire.
• For those close to Madison, Camp Randall Movie Night is June 29. Personally, I voted for Sing, though would probably continuously vote for Moana if it was a choice again and again because it’s amazing. Seriously, my best friend—who graduated from UW with me in May ‘06 and spent many a weekend at Church Key until bar time—and I just debated this past weekend who knew that amazing Disney hit better. Peak #DadLife, folks.

• Former Wisconsin and current Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is back in the state and playing golf at Erin Hills on Monday, which was the site of this year’s U.S. Open. Brother Derek, currently the fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers (still feels weird to say that), is also with him.